Epals is a K-12 learning Network that allows a parent/teacher to set up an account for a student to be able to have an email account. The adults email account is the first one to be activated and the child takes time to be approved to be able to connect to other classrooms. The child's account can be monitored by the adults. The adult can read all incoming and outgoing messages. Epals is completely monitored and safe for students to use. Students can begin to have online Pen Pals.
Advantages of the tool
Allows for students and teacher to interact around the world
Allows for a Creative, Safe, Learning Environment
Introduces to Students to a more College like Atmosphere
Epals is Free
Allows Students to work on Group Projects even when at home
No Downloads needed
Has a Translation tool which allows for people of different languages to communicate
Improves student communication (particularly writing)
Acts as a motivation tool for students
Disadvantages (limitations) of the tool
ยท The tool needs to be more intuitive. For instance, most of the projects are just listed out, this makes the site crowded and the user may overlook pertinent details regarding his subject. I would have preferred to see hierarchy of how the site is structured. None of the menus tell you what various offerings exist on this site at a glance.
Allows students to email for non-educational reasons during class time
There is no filter system for the emails, the teacher has to read them all to monitor them
The activate process takes time
The setting up process takes time.
Application of the tool in your subject area
Considering that I want to teach first grade, I don't see first grades needing to do too much emailing back and forth between each other for classroom projects, but I do see the benefits when it comes to connecting with other classrooms around the world. The students can have pen pals in different countries to gain an understanding of a different culture, or even just start a project, with a class in a different state.
Connecting with students somewhere else, I think will motivate the students more, and enhance the learning experience. It will make students more excited to work on the project.
Communication Tool:
Group Members:Dacia Sachtjen
Brief introduction of the tool
Epals is a K-12 learning Network that allows a parent/teacher to set up an account for a student to be able to have an email account. The adults email account is the first one to be activated and the child takes time to be approved to be able to connect to other classrooms. The child's account can be monitored by the adults. The adult can read all incoming and outgoing messages. Epals is completely monitored and safe for students to use. Students can begin to have online Pen Pals.
Advantages of the tool
Disadvantages (limitations) of the tool
ยท The tool needs to be more intuitive. For instance, most of the projects are just listed out, this makes the site crowded and the user may overlook pertinent details regarding his subject. I would have preferred to see hierarchy of how the site is structured. None of the menus tell you what various offerings exist on this site at a glance.
Application of the tool in your subject area
Considering that I want to teach first grade, I don't see first grades needing to do too much emailing back and forth between each other for classroom projects, but I do see the benefits when it comes to connecting with other classrooms around the world. The students can have pen pals in different countries to gain an understanding of a different culture, or even just start a project, with a class in a different state.
Connecting with students somewhere else, I think will motivate the students more, and enhance the learning experience. It will make students more excited to work on the project.
Useful Resources
If your classmates want to learn more about your topic, where should they go? Please recommend 3 websites or more.
http://corp.epals.com/
http://www.friendshipthrougheducation.org/epals.htm
http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/News/Breaking-News/Microsoft2c-ePals-Sign-Strategic-Technical-Collaboration-Agreement-66829.aspx